Introducing the 48-hour DVD

In May 2003, Flexplay Technologies, a privately held company based in New York, announced that Buena Vista Home Entertainment Division of The Walt Disney Company would use its flexible play DVD technology to make movies available to consumers in test markets beginning this August.

In May 2003, Flexplay Technologies, a privately held company based in New York, announced that Buena Vista Home Entertainment Division of The Walt Disney Company would use its flexible play DVD technology to make movies available to consumers in test markets.

EZ-D incorporates Flexplay’s proprietary flexible play technology into a standard DVD. A Flexplay-enabled DVD is similar to a conventional DVD, except that it has a 48 hour viewing window that begins when the disc is removed from its packaging. Consumers will then be able to enjoy the movie as many times as they wish during this time frame. After 48 hours of impeccable play, the DVD will no longer be readable by the DVD player and can then be recycled. A Flexplay enabled DVD works in all players, DVD drives and gaming systems designed to accept a standard DVD. GE Plastics has been a key strategic collaborator in the advancement of Flexplay’s proprietary technologies, developing a new patented Lexan resin co-polymer essential to the flexible play design.

EZ-D’s goal is to expand the overall home entertainment market by appealing to consumers whose rental consumption has diminished due to the perceived inconvenience of the current rental process. EZ-D will give these consumers easy access to recently released titles in places they already shop and the opportunity to watch them at their convenience without worrying about returns, late fees or scratched discs. EZ-D offers retailers the opportunity to expand their existing DVD business; and for first time DVD retailers, easy entrée into the growing DVD category.

“We are thrilled that EZ-D discs containing Buena Vista Home Entertainment content will be available to consumers beginning in August,” said Alan Blaustein, CEO of Flexplay. “We believe that EZ-D will become synonymous with Flexplay’s innovative technology and that consumers and content providers will soon appreciate the convenience and ease that a Flexplay enabled EZ-D will offer.”

Bob Chapek, president of Buena Vista Home Entertainment said, “We are very excited to be utilizing Flexplay’s technology to introduce EZ-D. This is a great opportunity for us to test consumer receptiveness to this new product in a live market setting. We believe consumers will enjoy the benefits of EZ-D without the inconvenience of making extra trips, returning movies, and paying late fees.”

Art LeBlanc, president of Flexplay noted, “This is a breakthrough in the DVD manufacturing process and the introduction of EZ-D represents a major technological achievement for the industry.”

GE Plastics’ new Lexan resin co-polymer used in the Flexplay DVD is an essential component of the flexible play technology and is a result of the company’s two-year strategic development program with Flexplay. The new co-polymer represents a technical breakthrough for Lexan resin.

“Our strategic development efforts with Flexplay have resulted in yet another innovative product milestone for our Lexan resin,” said John Dineen, vice president and global Lexan business leader for GE Plastics. “This is exciting new technology that can help revolutionise and expand the DVD marketplace. We are fully committed to maximising this technology globally.”